Gas gravitometer



Jlm'e 1s, 1953 s. w. BlNCKLEY 2,641,923

. GAS GRAVITOMETER Filed June 18, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 41 June 16, 1953s. wQBlNcKLEY 2,641,923

GAS GRAVITOMETER Filed June 18, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 S. W. BINCKLEY GASGRAVITOMETER June 16, 1953 Filed June 18, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z0Bnveutor,

Patented June 16, 1953 UNITED] STA-[5 P 2 Claims.

The present invention constitutes an improvement upon that type of gasgravitometer clescribed in United States lLetters Patent No. 2,106,966issued to George S; Binckley on February 1, 1938.

An object of the present invention is to provide a gas gravitorneter ofgreat accuracy, and which in its operation is substantially free fromerrors due to temperature variations, which corrects for humidity andgives a true specilic gravity of the gas sample. Y

A further object is the provision of a gasgravitorneter adaptable tovarious ranges of specic gravity.

The present gas gravitometer utilizes two columnsy of equal height, oneof which has a continuously iowing sample of the gas passedtherethrough, while the other column contains dry air, the diierence ofweight between the dry air and the gas in these two columns beingmeasured and recorded in terms of specic gravity. With reference to theforegoing, ordinarly the weight of the gas sample is expressed as apercentage of the weight of the atmosphere as it exists at the time,which includes water vapors which may be present in the atmosphere,Since air containing moisture has less density than dry air at the samebarometric pressure, variations in atmospheric humidity above or belowthat existing at the time the gravitometer is calibrated, will introduceerrors in recorded gravity .of the gas samples. The construction andarrangement of the present invention overcomes this error.

Furthermore it has been determined that the effective height of the gascolumn whoseweight is to be determined may be slightly increased ordecreased during operation or" a gas gravitometer, thus introducing anerror. k present invention provides means whereby such an error in thedetermination of gravity is eiectively eliminated. y

A further object of the invention is to provide in a single gasgravitometer means whereby the gas gravitometer may be quickly adaptedfor use with gases lighter than air, or with gases which have a specificgravity of 2%, times or more than that of air. Y

Other objects of the invention consist in a gas gravitometer which issuperior to gas gravitometers now known to the inventor, accurate inoperation, easily installed and calibrated and substantially fool-proofin operation.

In the drawing: A Figurey l is a front elevation, partly in fragment andin section, showing the gravitorneter of the invention;

Accordingly, the

. Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in fragment and in section, ofthe gravitometer shown in Figure 1 and looking in the direction of thearrow 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, partially sectional, elevation of the gas andair columns used in the practice of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a weight member utilized when periodicchange of the specific gravity range of the invention is desirable;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 n Figure 6 is aschematic ilow ,diagram of the gas gravitometer; and

Figure 7 is a front elevation of the gas gravitometer within its case.

Referring now with particularity to the drawings, reference is made toFigure 6. In said figure I have provided two bells, to wit, a Workingbell i and a balance bell 2, both of which bells are of identicalconstruction and size and preferably of the sameweight, each bell havinga curved or cylindrical side wall 3 and a conical top A, the bell beingopen at the bottom. y Each bell is adapted to be in part received withinsepa- Y rate tanks 5 and E. Each tank has a circular side wall whichspacedly surrounds its respective bell and the two tanks communicate atl, to provide a fluid passageway. It is intended that both tanks shouldbe lled to a lcertain level with a liquid, such as a white oil.

Both bells are suspended from a beam 8 and the beam `8 by means oflinkage 9 is adapted to actuate a pen arm l0 for movement over agraduated chart at i l, which chart is rotated by ka clock indicated atl2.

A pair of vertical columns are provided at I3 and Ill, the columns beingof equal height. The column l3,"ir`1 addition to the vertical portion,has a lateral portion l5 and a further vertical portion at i6, which iscentral of the tank with its open end positioned above the level of thesealingY liquid IlA in said tank. The column i4 is similarly arranged inthat it has a lateral at .I8 and a ,short vertical portion I9 connectingwith the lateral, the open end of said vertical portion I9 being abovethe level of the liquid Il within said tank and bell. The gas samplewhose gravity is to be determined is passed through a tubing 20, thesaid tubing carrying a drop tube 2| extending below the level of aliquid, such as oil 23, contained in bottle 22, so that the rate of flowof gas through orifice plug 28 is constantthat is, fluctuations inpressure of gas in tube 20 result in increase or decrease in rate of dowthrough tube 2l, but do not affect the rate of 3 gas fiow in tube 28after the gas has passed the junction of tubes and 2l. Outlet tube 24functions as a vent to cariy away gas from bottle 22. The tube 23 isbent at an angle to provide a vertical portion 25 and said portion 25 ispassed centrally within the portion I6, with the outlet from said tubecommunicating with the space included between a pair of diffuser plates25 and 2. An orice plug is included Within the pipe portion 25 at 28. Asthe specific gravity of the gas is determined with reference to dry air,in other words, the difference in weight between dry air and the gas, Iprovide a tubing 23, which has two vertical portions as shown at 38 and3l, with an inter-connecting pipe at 32, the

portion 3Q being passed centrally of the portion I9 and communicatingbetween the two diffuser plates 33 and 34. The length 3I of the tubing29 is in direct communication with the case 35, at one end thereof, thecase having an intake tube at 36. This case is adapted to hold amaterial such as a silica gel for the purpose of removing moisture fromthe air passed through said case and into the tube 29 for receptionbetween the diffuser plates 33 and 34.

The brief rsum of the working elements of the invention has been setforth and it is evident that the owing gas sample passing through thetubing 29 has its pressure regulated by the bottle 22 and that the gasis continuously received within the working bell I above the level ofthe liquid I'I and that the air is dried prior to said air beingreceived within the balance bell 2 above the surface of the liquid Il.The weight of the gas in bell I and in gas column I3 is balanced againstthe weight of dry air in bell 2 and dry air in column I4.

Reference will now be made to Figures l, 2 and 3, which specificallyshow the structure of the invention. It will be noted that I haveprovided a base 39 upon which the various elements of the invention maybe mounted. For instance, the tank members 5 and 6 are provided withdepending feet 48, which may be secured by means of bolts or screws 4Ito the base. Furthermore, the columns I3 and I4 may be anchored to thebase, or secured within sleeve fittings, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, at42. As the device should stand vertically, with the base horizontal, forbest operating characteristics, I may provide a bubble type level, notshown. In addition, levelling screws 43 are passed through the base sothat -accurate adjustment of the base and the instruments carriedthereon may be obtained. These features are mere refinements and do notconstitute a part of the invention.

It will be noted that the tubing 20 for conducting the gas sample to theworking bell and thence to the column I3 has a slightly differentarrangement from the schematic showing in Figure 6, in that the pressureregulating bottle 22 is held suspended infront of the tanks 5 and 6, thetubing 20 being provided with fittings carried by the cover 44 of saidregulating bottle. Also the tubing 20 communicates with a fittingleading to a pipe here designated as 20-a, which pipe has a fittingconnecting with a pipe 20-b, which pipe enters an enlargement 45external the base of the tank 5. The portion I5 for the column I3likewise has connection with said enlargement 45. Thus in place of theportion I5 being passed through the side wall of the tank 5 as shownschematically in Figure 6, in actual Apractice this portion is below thebase of said tank as shown in Figures l and 2. The enlargement 45carries portions I6 and 25, which portions are central of the tank andextend upwardly therein for communication with the interior of theworking bell. The enlargement 45 carries a drain plug 46 which permitsdrainage of that portion numbered I6, which communicates with the columnI3. A like construction is provided for tank 6, wherein the base has anenlargement 41, which communicates with the column I4, which enlargementcarries a drain plug 48, with the pipe 32 communicating with theinterior of the enlargement and extending centrally of the portion I9which communicates with part I8. Included within the portion 3! of pipe29 is a valve49 and the valve in turn is secured to the case 35. Thiscase is cylindrical in form and provided with a screw cap 53. A tube 36extends from the cap and within the case is placed some air dryingmedium such as silica gel, as indicated at 5 I.

The beam 8 carries adjacent its ends bearing spools 52 and 53 and links54 and 55 at one end are provided with knife edges for contact with saidspools, the opposite end of each link being received within the slot ofa stud carried at the apex of each bell, as shown at 56. A screw 51 ispassed through each stud and a link so that each link will suspend abell when the links are engaging the spools 52 and 53 of the beam. Thebeam is centrally secured at 58 to a cross head 59 (see Figure 2) thecross head being supported by a pair of fixed fulcrum links 60 and 5Iwhich links depend from portions 62 and 63 of a bracket 64, whichbracket is provided with a collar 65 surrounding a portion of the columnI3 and held thereto by means of set screws 66. Connection between thefixed links 60 and 6I with the beam 59 is by means of knife edges sothat the beam may tip during movement of the bells I and 2.

The cross beam 59 is provided with a cylindrical portion at 61 andaclamp ring 38 surrounds this portion. Depending from the ring is apendulum rod 69, and diametrically positioned therefrom is a rod I0carrying -a weight 1I. Secured to the pendulum rod is a thermostaticcoil 'I2 adapted to raise or lower the position of a pendulum weight 13.The construction of the elements just referred to is shown in full inthe Binckley P-atent No. 2,106,966, heretofore referred to.

A collar 'I4 is carried by the column I3, which collar has a lug I5 towhich is pivotally secured member 16, the outer end of which member isAbifurcated or slotted so as to receive the pendulum arm and hold thesame against movement in what is termed the zero stop position.

The bracket 64 is formed to carry at its forward end the clock I2 and achart plate 11, the actual chart II being secured to the chart plate bymeans of a nut 'I8 carried on a hub which is rotated by the clock shaft.

A'collar 'I9 is secured to column I3 and carries a bracket 80, Posts 8|and 82 extend from one side of this bracket. VPosts 8| and 82 both carryadjustable pivot screws 83, with a shaft 84 held therebetween. A lever85 is secured to shaft 84, the said lever provided with an adjustableweight 86. One end of the link 9 is secured to the lever 85 While theopposite end of said link has a fitting which is pivotally secured tothe beam 8 adjacent one end thereof. The pen arm I9 is provided wlth afitting 81, see Figure 1, which is secured to the shaft 84. Thearrangement is such that the pen arm may be swung relative to thefitting from the plane of the chart II. As is usual, the outermost ienclof the pen arm .carries a pen Ill-a. The shaft 84 carries an adjustablebalancing weight, designatedr generally as "8.8;

As a device of this character must be carefully calibrated, otherbalancing weights are provided. F'or instancathe beam 8 carries anadjustable weight 89, actuated by Aa Vernier 90, which aidsinbalancingthe beam and its associated parts, such as the working bell,the balance bell, together withlinkage, tol a zero position. yOtherweights shown at 9| and 92 are adjustable upon a rod 93 secured to theclamp ring 68. As this clamp ringis associated with the pendulum, it isessential that the pendulum be properly balanced to a zero position. Asan aid in this balancing, adjustable weights 94 and 95 are mounted on `arod `96 extending from the cross head beam 59.

A feature of the present invention resides in the arrangement of thecolumns vI3 and I4. The

lower ends of the columns I3 and I4 are ntted within members such asshown at 42 in Figure 2 for the gas column and a like member for the.air column, and preferably the gas and air columns are welded to saidbase ttings. A clamp is secured to both columns, the clamp being held byset screws IDI. The clamp is provided with a lug |02 which has atransverse bore to permit passage therethrough of an elongatedscrew-threaded rod |03. Lock nuts IIM4 and |05 are carried on the screwthreadsY ofA the rod |03 and on each side of the lug. Thelsaidscrew-threaded rod carries an adjustable pointer |35 adapted to playover a barometric scale IIi'I secured by clamps |08 and |09 to thecolumn I3. The upper end of said screw-threaded rod |03 is secured to astud III), which stud extends outwardly from a cap I carried on thec-olumns I3 and I4. This cap is so formed as to provide two annularflanges |I2and |I3. Sleeves |I4 and ||5 surround the upper portions ofthe respective columns I3 and I4, with the lower ends of said sleevestted within the flanges I I2 and ||3. The upper end of sleeve I|4 is ins4ternally screw threaded at IIB and a tubular gas cap ||1 is threadedthereto. A spacer ||8 is provided between the lower end of said cap andthe upper end of the sleeve H4. Also to limit the threading between saidcap and the vsaid sleeve, the said cap is provided with an internal ringH9. The upper end of the gas cap has an annular top |20. n

The` sleeve |I5 is externally screw threaded for engagement with. thethreads of what is termed a lowerV air cap I2I. This cap is threaded tothe lower end of an air column casing |22. The lower air cap |2| isprovided` with a screen |23, and the top `of said air column casing |22is provided with a screen |24 and a reduced opening |25. The air columncasing houses a material |26 adapted to prevent entry of moist air intothe column, which material may be silica gel.

Weights of the character shown in Figure'li may be utilized in theinvention to increase the specific gravity range of the instrument. Theweights constitute in each instance a disk |21 formed with a centralbore |28 and a counter bore |29. The disk is provided with an annularflange |30 and with a radial slot I3I. The

arrangement is such that a weight may be pon sitioned on a stud 5S asshown in Figure 1,-the links 54 and 55 being passed through the radialslot |3I, with the top of the stud tting within the counter bore |29. Aradial bore is provided column to dr'y the ambient air.

. vention just described are as follows:

In the adjustable type gas and air columns, air driers are provided forthe air column .and for air which enters the tubing 29 to be receivedwithin the balance bell. The adjustable air and gas columns have certainadvantages over a .column that is not adjustable.. Particularly theadjustment permits compensation for barometric pressure changes. It isevident that the instrument of this invention may be used in differentlocalities and barometric pressure change becomes very important.

The balance bell is used for balancing the weight of the working belland both 'bells are immersed within the sealing liquid I1, the sealingliquid surrounding both bells and likewise being received within thesame as illustrated in Figure 6. Hence surface tension and buoyancy ofthe sealing liquid is not a factor.

In the type of instrument shown, two columns are used, one column forthe flowing gas sample whose speciiic gravity is to be determined withrelation to dry air, and a second column having means both'at theentrance and exit for said Movement of the two columns is simultaneousasboth columns are of the same length and such movement is indicated onthe barometric scale |01, movement occurring when the nuts |04, |05 areloosened on the threaded rod |03 to raise or lower both said columns andto lock them in a specific position. Obviously, the columns areadjustable in height to compensate for barometric pressure changes. Asshown, the columns extend within the sleeves IIII and IIE for a con-"siderable distance so that the columns have quite -a range of movement.The present two column arrangement with adjustability for height of bothcolumns simultaneously provides a means which allows the columns to bemoved easily and without'the necessity of changing iixed lengthlcolumns.

To change-the range ofthe gravitometer for different specific gravities,the weights shown in Figure 4 may be utilized to raise or lower thespeciiic gravity range of the instrument. Thus, assuming that bothcolumns have been iixed as to height, the weight shown in Figure 4 maybe placed over the stud of the working bell. Thus, with a range ofweights, the instrument may be made to record from zero to .5 or by`changing the weights from .5 to 1.0; 1.0 to 1.5;

1.5 to 2.0 to 2.5.

yThe Vernier type weight provided for the beam 0 at 89 and 90 isimportant, in that air balance or zero setting is made by adjusting theposition of said weight, to the end that the beam is in equilibrium withthe pen which plays'over the chart at point 1.0.

We will not attempt here, in the statement of operation, to go intocalibration ofthe instrument, although it is evident that the same maybe calibrated quite easily by adjusting the weights connected with thevarious parts which include, of course, the pendulum and itsthermostatically controlled weight.

In operation this instrument utilizes, as before stated, the differencein weight between a column of gas and a column of dry air of equalheight. The entire interior of the gas column and the working bell I isfilledl with gas while the dry air column and the balance bell are lledwith dry air. These tWo columns are of exact height and the bells are ofexact diameters. Therefore, the difference in weight of the two volumesis a major force acting on the Working bell and tending to raise ordepress it, as the gas is heavier or lighter than dry air. This force isresisted bythe Weight of the pendulum which moves and allows the penmechanism to move in direct ratio to the specic gravity of the gassample. The rate of flow through the gravitometer is approximately 2cubic feet per hour. Thus, the gas Within the instrument, theoretically,is completely changed about 19 times every hour, or about once every 3minutes. Thus the time `lag is short and complete purging is rapid.

In order thatno error be introduced by temperature variations, thependulum Weight is mounted on an arm which in turn is attached to oneend of the thermostatic coil, at I2 and 73. This coil and assembly is socalibrated that the center of gravity of the `weight is raised orlowered in direct proportion to the change in the air-gas diierential,due to a given temperature variation. VEven under extreme conditions oftemperature change, the record made by this instrument is that due tothe working force acting on the head of the Working bell, which wouldexist if the temperature were constant at 60 Fahrenheit. The pendulumweight alone, and not the entire assembly of its supporting elements,resists forces acting on the working bell. The working bell and thebalance bell, of course, are placed at equal distances from the fulcrumof the beam from which they are suspended. The balance bell functions tobalance the weights of the working bell and also functions to compensatethe eiect of the buoyant force and surfaceV tension of the sealingliquid Il. As the bells 'are of the same diameter, the surface tensionof the liquid may vary to any extent Without having any elect whatsoeverupon the calibration. narily extreme changes in humidity would have adefinite bearing on the recorded gravity on the chart. However, thepresent invention in utilizing a double column With dry air is notaffected in any manner by changes in Ordii humidity and the record asrecorded on the chart is the true specific gravity of the gas correctedfor temperature and humidity.

I claim:

1. A gravitometer, including a tank holding a sealing liquid, a workingbell and a balance bell immersed in part in said sealing liquid toprovide an enclosed space in each bell, a balance beam supporting saidbells, means for directing a flowing gas sample within the venclosedspace of the working bell, means for directing dry air into the enclosedspace of the balance bell, a pair of elongated columns the tops of whichare above the level'of the sealing liquid, one of which communicateswith the enclosed space within the Working bell and the other of whichcommunicates with the enclosed space Within the balance bell, andcompensating means comprising means for simultaneously varying thelength of each column.

2. A gravitometer including a tank provided with a sealing liquid, abalance bell and a working bell immersed in part Within the said sealingliquid to provide an enclosed space above said liquid in said workingbell and in said balance bell, means for directing air Within thebalance bell into the enclosed space and means for preventing theentrance of moist air within the balance bell, means for directing a gassample Within the enclosed space of the working bell, a pair of columns,'the tops of which are above the level of the sealing liquid, onecolumnV of which communicates with the enclosed space in the workingbell and the other column of which communicates with the enclosed spacein the balance bell, and means in the column communicating with thebalance bell for preventing the entrance of moist air within saidcolumn.

SYDNEY WILLIAM BINCKLEY.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FranceNov. 9, 1921 Australia June 15, 1934:

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